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Laird lands back in Houston after fine spring

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Laird's two-run shot 0:43

3/21/13: Brandon Laird belts a two-run homer to right field off Justin Verlander, giving the Astros a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth

By Brian McTaggart
/
MLB.com |

HOUSTON -- When the Astros sent Brandon Laird down at the end of the spring despite a solid performance at the plate, they told him he would be needed in Houston at some point during the season. And it didn't take long for the club to give him a call.

Laird, called up on Thursday when Brett Wallace was sent to Triple-A Oklahoma, joined the club on Friday after hitting .353 with five doubles, two homers and 14 RBIs in 12 games with the RedHawks. He hit .328 with three doubles, five homers and 12 RBIs in 29 games this spring, but was called into manager's Bo Porter's office and sent down.

"The meeting in Spring Training wasn't what I was expecting, but like Bo said, 'Go down there and take care of your business and we'll see you soon,'" Laird said. "I went down there and did what I needed to do and got some good at-bats, and just worked hard and got back here."

Laird, who can play first and third and maybe some outfield, admitted he was keeping close tabs on the Astros while he was at Triple-A and was sleeping when he got the call from RedHawks manager Tony DeFrancesco telling him he was heading to Houston.

"I was hoping it was a matter of time and I wanted to concentrate on what I had to do down there," he said. "I didn't want to go down there and mope and not work hard, and then be down there longer. I wanted to continue what I was doing in the spring and fortunately I did, and I'm excited to be here now."

Porter said Laird should have made the club out of Spring Training.

"You can only take 25 guys," the skipper said. "Like I explained to him, he was a victim of a numbers crunch. He's been around the game and been in different organizations, and he understands what happens. To his credit, he went to Triple-A and didn't hold his head down, and warranted being called up."